Chapter 33: Chapter 33

thomas

I go back to the party to look for Cecilia, but I can't find her anywhere. I look around, searching the crowd of drunken, out-of-control students. All I see is Kelly, the friend she's always glued to. I dodge people and get close to her. I stand in front of the girl, who stops dancing and looks at me with surprise at my appearance in front of her.

— Have you seen Cecilia?

— I saw her leaving with a man, I think it was one of her security guards — he says and points with his thumb to the exit behind her.

“The security guards aren't here today,” I say, and the girl tilts her head to the side, not understanding.

I say thank you and get about thirty minutes for her. Anything. I start to get worried, with a really bad feeling in my chest. I leave there and call all the security guards who normally take care of Cecília, asking them to try to find her even if they are off duty. Then I call Caesar. It takes the man to notice me.

“ Thomas? says with a sigh.

"Is Cecilia with you?" I ask at once.

“ Crystal? Was she not with you?

— If I'm calling you, it's because you're not, damn it! If this is some plan of yours to take her from me, Caesar, I swear it...

I run a hand through my hair and kick the car wheel hard. Where the hell is she?

" I'm not with her!" Already said! What…

I hang up without waiting for him to complete the sentence and without answering anything and I try to dial her cell phone, even though I know that she is not very attentive to the device. The girl can go days without touching her cell phone without missing it

He calls and calls and Cecilia doesn't answer. I called again and this time it says the number is out of range.

I drive back to the hotel looking around the streets to see if I don't spot her there by chance, but I don't see her. Where could she have gone? Cecilia looked upset when she asked us to go back to the hotel. I know she's after so much more than I have to offer, so could it be that she got pissed off and ran away from me?

"Damn it, Cecilia!" - I punch the steering wheel and accelerate. — One day you still kill me from the heart, girl.

I pull up in front of my hotel and toss the key to the valet. I practically run towards the elevator. When I go into our room to look for her, I see that things are exactly as we left them before we left. I check in the bathroom as a guarantee, and nothing.

My cell phone rings and I quickly take it out of my jacket pocket, thinking it's her, but it's César.

" Did you find her? " - he asks anxiously as soon as I answer.

- No. Do you know of any place she could have gone?

" You were supposed to take care of my crystal, you bastard!" Of course

I know where she might have gone! Probably somewhere far away from you.

"If it doesn't help, it doesn't get in the way!" I yell, hang up and throw the phone on the bed.

I sit on the mattress for a few minutes and think. If she was upset, where would she go? Either to a friend's house or to the usual place. I grab my device again in case she calls and run to the swimming area. It is empty. I can picture Cecilia swimming there, so provocative and beautiful with her red hair floating in the water. I've gotten used to that view over the last few months.

On the way back to the room, I meet some staff and ask for her, but no one has seen her. I'm intercepted by the hotel manager, who says someone is out there looking for me.

— As you weren't in the room, I didn't let them go upstairs. The man and woman are outside making a shack and calling the attention of the guests.

I wave and walk there, seeing César and Paula at the entrance, with a mixture of anger and concern written on their faces.

'Where's my little girl, Thomas?' What did you do with her? - Paula asks, shouting, while the security of the hotel approaches to contain the confusion.

I hold up a finger to stop them and they return to their place in the entryway.

"I didn't fucking do anything!" We were at the party, I said I was going to get the car because she asked to come here and, when I came back, I couldn't find her anymore - I say, walking from one side to the other, trying to think of a solution, of some clue. In anything!

Why is it so hard to be rational when it comes to that girl? Why is it so hard to maintain the coolness I normally have in dealing with a situation like this?

— If something happens to her, Thomas… — threatens César, running a hand through his hair.